A Shift in Perspective
Over the last few months, I have spoken with dozens of Christian parents who are struggling to navigate the weird atmosphere of our present cultural condition.
Many of them are terrified. I can feel the tension as they seek to navigate the seemingly endless waves stretched out in front of them…and I understand.
Truly, I do.
Although I am not in the same boat as the young families are, I do have the interesting task of being in the launching stage for our almost-adult youngest daughter, and I’m watching my two elder daughters learning to navigate in their own family-boats. It’s rough water, guys – there’s just no getting around it.
As I’ve thought about what I want to say in this blog post, I have come to the conclusion that I don’t have any new nuggets of wisdom or profound revelation.
It all comes back to the familiar, and thankfully solid, foundation that has been built through the previous trials and storms of life.
We need to be reminded of all the lessons we have learned as we have come to this present location…truths that won’t change no matter what crazy and confused curveball gets thrown at us.
We need to know that the crazy string of events may startle the bejeebers out of us, but it has not taken God by surprise at all. He is right where He has always been, holding out His hand to us in invitation to join Him in His work.
Fear not, for I am with you;
Isaiah 41:10
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
For those of you who are feeling forced into educating your children at home, I encourage you to harness the courage that God has offered you as His children.
Take Him up on the offer. Reach out and grab ahold of the truth from His Word that you have learned to take personally as you’ve navigated past experiences.
Perhaps He is going to show you exactly what He is able to do through you. Perhaps He has been preparing you for such a time as this.
I’m not going to kid you, this is going to take a shift in perspective. How do we do this?
We can start with choosing to switch from survive to thrive.
Instead of worrying about the stuff you aren’t going to have time to do (and believe me, you can’t do everything – no one can), focus on the things you don’t want to miss.
Instead of looking at homeschooling as we HAVE to do this…
decide to look at it like we GET to do this.
YOU get to decide:
What are the most important things for your children to learn?
What is going to be the most eternal use of your time?
What does GOD say about education? Read this book to find out!
Romans 12:2 says: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Did you catch the beginning of that verse? Don’t copy the…world.
This means don’t allow stress and fear to rule your thoughts like those who don’t know that God is in control.
A change in your mindset will bring a natural change in outlook.
Modeling a GROWTH mindset is the most important thing we can do for our children.
The life you live in front of your kids is the most influential curriculum they will ever be exposed to.
So, I encourage you to be brave enough to embrace something new, scary, and overwhelming.
It’s a new direction.
It’s going to take committing to the growth it’s going to take to fill the new parameters and answer this new call.
You’re ready. You’ve been prepared. Go get it.
